The National Park Service likes to promote that visitors give the National Park System a 96 percent approval rating. That's pretty lofty, but is it accurate?
Remember the "good ole days" when you could buy a National Park Pass for $50, one that would get you into as many national parks as many times as you wanted during one calendar year? Remember the days when a backcountry permit was free? Remember when you didn't have to pay to park in a park?
Traveler reader Gary Wheeler remembers those days.
"I'm a huge national park fan and often get a yearly pass (that $80 will be hard to recoup this year)," he told us. "I also want to say I soured a great deal on the pass after recent trips. I found I had to pay at Devil's Postpile (National Monument) to take a shuttle into the park. I had to pay parking at Rushmore. ... Rushmore was particularly frustrating: 'We have free admission, but you have to pay to park.' If that's the case, then why did I buy a parks pass?
"I am finding way too many places where my pass does me no good and I am hit with hidden fees," says Mr. Wheeler.
To that end, he has a reasonable suggestion: The National Park Service on its website should provide a clear and easily understandable table "of all parks and monuments along with admission fees, parking fees, additional fees, etc. That would be so informative and so easy to implement."
Now, don't misunderstand. The national parks remain an incredible resource in this country. But from time to time everyone can learn from others and find better ways to operate, ways to improve business. With that understood, what suggestions do you, the true national park travelers, have for the National Park Service?
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Comments
The time has come to make Mount Adam's a national park! It would relieve some visitor pressure off of mount Rainier and Mount St Helen's. A visitors center and lodge like Paradise to start with. Then another on the opposite side like Sunrise is. It would be an economical success for the area.
I think they should have 1-day passes instead of for the whole 7 days for $35. I think this because what if I cannot stay for all 7 days then its a waste of $35.
Many, many, years ago, a new chief was appointed over the forest service. I took notice for three reasons. First, he wasn't a political placement at all, but was appointed from the ranks of the top forest science experts actually at the working level in the service; second, he had demonstrated what was, for that era, a deep understanding of the link between terrestrial forest conditions and ecology and the health of associated riparian and aquatic ecosystems, which are especially important to me; and, third, because he truly didn't want the promotion and had to be forcefully courted and urged to take it by the president in office at that time.
Especially in those days, the installation ceremony for a forest service chief was/is a big deal, with much pomp and a generally very long policy speech by the incoming chief. This case was different. He stepped up and told his employees, at every level, to simply tell the truth and obey the law.
Given what has been happening over the past few years, my suggestions for what I would want the National Park Service to start or return to doing is exactly the same. Just tell the truth and obey the law.
Went to Devils Tower on Aug26 and had a wonderful time. This comes with an exception. The gift store is open 9-5 which is fine, but they close from 1130 til 1 for lunch. This store needs to stay open 9-5. Not only is it closed in the middle of the day for an hour and a half, but didn't open back up til 115. Really!!!!
Why does the national parks use rangers at entrance stations. Use toll ganterys. Put rangers where they are needed. Register your national park pass to your ez pass and this would end lines entertaining the parks. People with questions can stop at the visitor centers.